Normandy city takes hard line on public drunkenness

The Normandy city of Caen is doubling down on instances of public drunkenness.

As well as a fine of €150 for anyone who is drunk in public, an additional €120 to cover the cost of transportation to a nominated clinic or drunk tank, or to a safe room at a police or gendarmerie station, to 'sleep it off' will be added to all infringements.

The Public Health Code has allowed for this additional charge to be included for several years, but it is applied by few cities in France.

A total 149 people were arrested in Caen for being drunk in public in 2017, France 3 reports. They were all taken to one clinic for observation and protection while they were intoxicated.

Orléans was the first city to take such action against public displays of drunkenness in 2015, when it decided to charge drunk drivers for their treatment. A spokesman for the capital of Centre-Val de Loire region said that cases of public drunkenness had dropped 30% since 2014 levels.

"I am not saying that the result is directly related to the implementation of the system, however, it is obvious that it contributes to the decline of this phenomenon," the spokesman said.